Curtain-stretcher



'(No Model.)

J. J. OLIVER.

CURTAIN STRETGHBR.

Patented Mar. l, 1898.

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JAMES J OLIVER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CURTAIN-,STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,01*?, dated March 1, 1898.

Application filed May 13, 1897. Serial No. 636,3 '71. (No model.)

A which the curtains or draperies may be held to dry or to undergo any other operation that may be desired.

This specification is the disclosure of one form of my invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the conception.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the ligures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the lower' rail of the frame. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of one of the -side rails, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of one of the connections between the top rail and the side rails.

The side rails A are duplicates in construction and stand, approXimately,vertically with the help of supports 5, respectively hinged to the upper ends of the side rails and engaging with the surface on which the frame stands. The lower rail B is adjustable vertically between the side rails A, and the top rail C is rigidly attached to the upper ends of the side rails A.

Each side rail A is constructed of a rigid bar having at its inner face a rib 6, whereon a plate 7 is rigidly secured. The edges of the plate project beyond the rib 6 to form guide-` ways coacting with the bottom rail B. The upper end of each side railA has a headpiece 8, provided with upwardly-extending side flanges 9, running parallel with each other and adapted to respectively hold the sections 10 and 11 of the top rail O. The lower edges of the flanges 9 are connected by a horizontal web which, with the flanges 9,

form for each head an outwardly-projecting portion. Pivoted to the lower side of each of these outwardly-projected portions is a yoke 12. The yokes 12 are adapted to swing upward and respectively embrace the sections 10 and 11, whereby to hold the same rigidly on the heads 8, such fastening `being assisted by thumb-screws 13, carried in the yokes and working against wear-plates 14, attached, respectively, to the sections 10 and 11 of the top rail O. Each head 8 has hinged to its inner side a plate 15. The plates 15 respectively project inward and are respectively attached to the lower faces of the sections 10 and 11 of the top rail C. These devices serve to rigidly connect the sections 10 and 11 of the top rail C, respectively, with the side rails A.

The sections 10 and 11 of the top rail slide longitudinally along each other to adjust the length of the stretcher. For guiding this movement the section 10 is provided with a yoke 16, that embraces the section 11, and the section 11 is provided with two oppositelylocated iingers 17, respectively embracing the upper and lower sides of the section 10. The yoke 16 has aset-screw that engages the section 1l.

The bottom rail B is composed of two sections 18 and 19. The sections slide longitudinally on each other, as do the sections of the top rail.A The section 18 of the bottom rail has a yoke 20, embracing the section 19, and the section 19 has two ngers 21, oppositely located and respectively embracing the upper and lower faces of the section 18. The yoke 20, like the yoke 16, has a set-screw to engage the section which the yoke 2O embraces. The section`19 has a wear-plate 19a, (see Fig. 2,) that is engaged by the set-screw of the yoke 20. The section 11 of the top rail O is also provided with a wear-plate to respectively engage around the edges of the plate 7, so that the bottom rail B may be moved to any position vertically on the side rails A. Thethumb-screws 25 serve to rigidly hold the bottom rail B in position.

The rails A, B, and O are provided on their IOO front faces with a series of pins 26, that are intended to engage with and hold the curtain or drapery. To enable the sections of the top and bottom rails to adjust on each other and yet provide an unbroken line of pins 26 for each of said rails, the sections 1l and 19 of the top and bottom rails are provided with pins 26, arranged throughout the length of the sections, and the rear faces of the sections 10 and 18 of the top and bottom rails are provided with grooves 27, in which the pins 26 of the sections 11 and 19 may move as the sections are adjusted.

The sections 11 and 19 of the rails B and C are provided with a cross-brace 28, that rims rigidly between them and prevents the rails B and C from collapsing under force of the contractile pressure that they must undergo in operation. The brace 2S is adj ustably connected to the rails B and C, and the brace has a wear-plate to be engaged by any ordinary clamp-screws, whereby this adjustment is eected. y

Various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence I do not consider myself limited to the precise construction herein shown, but believe that l am entitled to all such variations as come within the terms of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A curtain-stretch erhaving a top and bottom rail and two side rails, a head for'the upper end of each side rail, the head having u pwardly-extending iianges receiving the top rail, a plate pivoted to each head and secured to the top rail, and a yoke pivoted to each head and swinging over the top rail to hold the same.

2. A stretching-frame having two side rails and a top and bottom rail, a slide-plate secured to each side rail, heads carried by the bttoin rail and having yokes respectively running on the slide-plates whereby to adjust the bottom rail vertically between the side rails, a head carried by the upper end of each side rail, a plate pivoted to each head of the side rails and secured to the top rail, and a yoke pivoted to each head of the side rails and embracing the top rail to hold the top rail.

3. A stretching-frame having side rails and a bottom rail, each side rail having a guideplate attached thereto, and heads secured to the bottom rail, yokes attached to the heads and respectively embracing the guide-plates and thumb-screws carried by the heads and engaging the guide-plates to hold the parts rigidly.

4. A curtain-stretcher, provided with a top and bottom rail and two side rails, the side rails having their upper ends pivotally connected with said top rail and carrying a device by which a rigid connect-ion therebetween may be effected, and the bottom rail having an adjustable sliding connection with said side rails and provided with means for holding said bottom rail adjusted.

5. A curtain-stretcher having a top rail, side rails, and adjustable bottom rail, each of the said side rails being provided at its upper end With a head receiving said top rail and pivotally connected therewith, and a yoke carried by said head and arranged to swing over the top rail to rigidly hold the same.

6. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination of a top and bottom rail and two side rails, a pivotal connection between said top rail and side rails, devices by which said side rails and top rail may be rigidly connected, a sliding connection between said bottom rail and said side rails, and devices carried by said bottom rail and by Which said rail may be held in adjusted position.

7. The combination in a curtain-stretcher, of the top rail, the side rails arranged to receive said top rail and provided With heads, a plate and yoke pivoted to each head, said plate being secured to said top rail and the yoke effecting rigid connection between the side and top rails, each of the side rails being provided with a guide-plate, a bottom rail provided with clips engaging said guide-plates and by which the bottom rail is adjustable upon the side rails, and means for rigidly hold* ing said bottom rail in adjusted position.

JAMES J. OLIVER.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH TEELE, ROBERT A. KUTTIG. 

